4.Dump
the junk – How many waypoints are stored in the waypoint manager file. Dump the old waypoints to the absolute minimum;
this helps to keep navigation simple.

5.Match
the GPS receiver’s compass to the magnetic compass and the map. .
Maps are usually set to degrees true.
Have the GPS and Magnetic compass match the topo map.

6.Erase
old track data – clean up the old the track (bread crumb trail)
information. Get rid of

Blake Miller/outdoor quest image

the clutter.

7.Remember
to stow the maps. I use maps from www.caltopo.com and will occasionally carry maps
from a hiking guides. Maps are stowed in
a zip lock gallon bag or rugged water proof map case.

8.Mark
a waypoint – Give key waypoints a name like “trl hed” or “camp.” Select waypoint manager to verify that the
information has been saved to memory. If
“trl hed” can be viewed on the waypoint manager file or viewed from the map
page the hiker is all set.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

The low cost of backpacking travel makes it possible to visit
most places of the world in an economical and more personable manner. The
Appalachian mountains are one beautiful travel location for people to backpack.
The mountainous region is made up of thirteen various divisions. The
Appalachians are 1,500 miles in length and a little over 2 miles in height. The
mighty Appalachians mountain range makes for a breathtaking hike for
backpackers. Here are the things to look for as you backpack the wild Appalachian
trail.

Enjoy all the Scenic
Sights

The fact is the entire range is beautiful and breathtaking.
Keep your eyes open and take in all of the sights. Admire the wildlife too.
There is plenty of animals and plant life to look at while
hiking. Be careful though of wild animals that may pose a harm. You should
additionally be wary of certain bugs, such as ticks. Ticks can give you some
diseases, like the dreaded and harmful Lyme's disease. Bring along a camera in
case of the chance you may want to snap photographs of some of the things you
will see on the Appalachian trail.

Don't Over Plan

The fact is you don't know what the weather will be and what
kind of a pace you will have while hiking the Appalachian trail. Avoid over
planning for your backpacking excursion. This will allow you to enjoy the
sightseeing along the way and not focus too much on the plan you made. You also
don't want to hike too quickly from having to stick to a too intense plan,
because you will burn yourself out far too quickly. You should savor the
Appalachian trail's sights.

Stops to Pack Your
Backpack Comfortably and Effectively

Pay attention to where you can stop to pack your backpack
comfortably and effectively. There are numerous little towns along the
Appalachian mountains. These little towns have plenty of suppliers for backpackers
to shop at when restocking their supplies. Remember to never over pack your
backpack. Only pack comfortably and effectively to make your backpacking
experience the best it can be. Pack the right amount of food, camping supplies,
water canteens, and clothing at each stop you have in the small towns along the
trail. You can add a few lightweight items to make the backpacking experience
more comfortable for yourself. Perhaps you can pack a camera. If you are a fan
of vaping, you should bring along a light weight vape pen and a vape
pen charger. You can charge it up at various stops along the trail.

Look for Appalachian
Trail Markers

The markers for the Appalachian trail are white markers on
trees, handrails, rocks, and posts. These markers allow you to know you are
following the right trail. One white mark means you are following the trail.
Two white marks means there is a change in the trail or two different
directions you can take. You will need a map or a compass for these parts of
the trail. Piles of rocks may also be used as markers in a few parts of the
trails. There are some segments of the Appalachian trail that are not marked
very much due to conservation efforts to keep certain areas of the trail as
natural as possible. If you backpack those parts of the trail, you ought to
bring a compass and a map for certain.

Food and Beer Locations
to Stop at from Georgia to Maine

On the Appalachian trail you will eat healthy and get a pretty
intense workout for your body. You'll enjoy the physical fitness you will
achieve. However, you will likely crave drinks and greasy food whenever you
stop in the small towns along the way. You will come across plenty of small
towns with beer and food venues to die for during your backpacking. The top seven stops for beer and food from the
Appalachian range all the way from Georgia to Maine for thru backpackers are:
Spring Creek Tavern and Inn, Damascus Brewery, Devil's Backbone Brewery, Doyle,
Woodstock Inn, The Gypsy Joynt, and Sarge's Sports Bar and Grill.

5 Things to Look for
When Backpacking the Appalachian

The low cost of backpacking travel makes it possible to visit
most places of the world in an economical and more personable manner. The
Appalachian mountains are one beautiful travel location for people to backpack.
The mountainous region is made up of thirteen various divisions. The
Appalachians are 1,500 miles in length and a little over 2 miles in height. The
mighty Appalachians mountain range makes for a breathtaking hike for
backpackers. Here are the things to look for as you backpack the wild
Appalachian trail.

Enjoy all the Scenic
Sights

The fact is the entire range is beautiful and breathtaking.
Keep your eyes open and take in all of the sights. Admire the wildlife too.
There is plenty of animals and plant life to look at while
hiking. Be careful though of wild animals that may pose a harm. You should
additionally be wary of certain bugs, such as ticks. Ticks can give you some
diseases, like the dreaded and harmful Lyme's disease. Bring along a camera in
case of the chance you may want to snap photographs of some of the things you
will see on the Appalachian trail.

Don't Over Plan

The fact is you don't know what the weather will be and what
kind of a pace you will have while hiking the Appalachian trail. Avoid over
planning for your backpacking excursion. This will allow you to enjoy the
sightseeing along the way and not focus too much on the plan you made. You also
don't want to hike too quickly from having to stick to a too intense plan,
because you will burn yourself out far too quickly. You should savor the
Appalachian trail's sights.

Stops to Pack Your
Backpack Comfortably and Effectively

Pay attention to where you can stop to pack your backpack
comfortably and effectively. There are numerous little towns along the
Appalachian mountains. These little towns have plenty of suppliers for backpackers
to shop at when restocking their supplies. Remember to never over pack your
backpack. Only pack comfortably and effectively to make your backpacking experience
the best it can be. Pack the right amount of food, camping supplies, water
canteens, and clothing at each stop you have in the small towns along the
trail. You can add a few lightweight items to make the backpacking experience
more comfortable for yourself. Perhaps you can pack a camera. If you are a fan
of vaping, you should bring along a light weight vape pen and a vape
pen charger. You can charge it up at various stops along the trail.

Look for Appalachian
Trail Markers

The markers for the Appalachian trail are white markers on
trees, handrails, rocks, and posts. These markers allow you to know you are
following the right trail. One white mark means you are following the trail.
Two white marks means there is a change in the trail or two different
directions you can take. You will need a map or a compass for these parts of
the trail. Piles of rocks may also be used as markers in a few parts of the
trails. There are some segments of the Appalachian trail that are not marked
very much due to conservation efforts to keep certain areas of the trail as
natural as possible. If you backpack those parts of the trail, you ought to
bring a compass and a map for certain.

Food and Beer Locations
to Stop at from Georgia to Maine

On the Appalachian trail you will eat healthy and get a pretty
intense workout for your body. You'll enjoy the physical fitness you will
achieve. However, you will likely crave drinks and greasy food whenever you
stop in the small towns along the way. You will come across plenty of small
towns with beer and food venues to die for during your backpacking. The top seven stops for beer and food from the
Appalachian range all the way from Georgia to Maine for thru backpackers are:
Spring Creek Tavern and Inn, Damascus Brewery, Devil's Backbone Brewery, Doyle,
Woodstock Inn, The Gypsy Joynt, and Sarge's Sports Bar and Grill.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Several years ago I had the opportunity to take an abbreviated wilderness survival course conducted by Emergency Response International (visit www.eri-online.com).One component of their presentation was emergency shelters.Key to emergency shelter building is the ability to tie a reliable knot.

First, the hunter needs to carry shelter material.This can range from a poly tarp (with numerous grommets) or one of the many nylon tarps sold through high end retailers such as REI.A tarp of 8’ by 10’ is adequate. Secondly, 50 feet good quality parachute cord is needed to tie the shelter to a tree or pole.Quality parachute cord has a breaking strength of 500 pounds and can be found at a surplus store or on-online.(There is some junk para cord out there so be careful with your selection.)

An excellent resource for knot tying is an online web site animatedknots.com.This site offers downloadable apps for the smart phone and categorizes knots by topic (such as scouting, boating and fishing.The instructions are concise and easy to understand.

There are hundreds of knots that the hunter can choose from.I recommend learning just a few knots that expand beyond tying your boots or the square knot.

A great knot to start with is the timber hitch.Wikipedia claims that the timber hitch was first mentioned in a nautical source around 1620.

“The timber hitch is a used to attach a single length of rope a cylindrical object. Secure while tension is maintained, it is easily untied even after heavy loading.”

Wikipedia

The timber hitch is a friction knot.The many wraps of rope or parachute cord hold firmly under tension.It’s simple and easy to use and can be the anchor of a tarp.Best of all, after being placed under tension it won’t become next to impossible to untie; we have all been there.

About Me

Avid outdoorsman in all seasons. Always learning to improve my knowledge-base and to pass on lessons learned. Search and Rescue volunteer, amateur ham radio operator, retired Naval officer. I focus on keeping my family and students safe and prepared to spend an unexpected night out. Founded Outdoor Quest in 1998. I teach land navigation (both compass/map and GPS applications), and wilderness survival.